Excelsior

Part 1 - Boarding

The smell of Hydrium filled my nose as I walked up the gangplank and aboard the Excelsior. I did a quick turn around and saw I was the only girl in the crew. Great... I thought harshly, This ought to be grand... I looked around once more and glared at some of the men and boys gawking at me. "What do I look like? A prostitute? Go about your business, Dumkof's!" I snapped, using anger to hide my fear. I was secretly terrified.

The Excelsior is a prized ship, with it's Captain being only sixteen, it was utterly remarkable that the ship ran as well as it did. The Pilot, however, happened to be me, a girl of only sixteen. I was afraid of this... I was going to face many challenges if I was to be the best Pilot this Captain was yet to see. I was ready, though, to see this through to the end. I held my head high as I passed through the sea of men, ignoring their snide comments and wolf whistles. I stopped at the door of the ship and was blocked by, none other than the Captain.

I have heard many things about this Captain. How he has discipline, yet is kind. Ruthless, yet fair. Handsome, yet sweet. Men from home talked highly of this Captain, but seeing him in person was a different story... His name slid off my tongue like water; "Captain Elyi Camply." My eyes widened as I saw him. His blue eyes shone down into mine and he replied in an intoxicating voice; "Hello, Pilot Sinclair Anderson." He put a hand on my shoulder and addressed the crew. "If anyone has a problem with my Pilot, let him take it up with me privately." As he said this he nudged me behind him in a somewhat protective way. I assumed this this was because I was a girl... but I was wrong.